Henry j



-as in Fosters wrench.

SATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY J. BEHRENS, OF NEW YORK, N, Y., ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES S. POMEROY, OF SAME PLAGE.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,17 5, dated May 24:, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J.. BEHRENS, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Gripping-IVrench; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Grripping` wrenches have been heretofore constructed, binding by means of an eccentric inserted in the movable jaw, as in Hydes wrench; or by making the aw itself movable upon a hinge by connecting a washer on the nut with the stationary jaw,

But both these devices are open to objection, Hydes because of the necessary exactness, and consequent expense of its construction, and also because the cam inserted within the jaw has its center of motion so near its periphery, as to admit but a limited range, and consequent diminution of power and effectiveness; having at the same time, but a narrow bearing upon the object embraced between the aws. In Fosters wrench, the mode of construction is so faulty as to be readily apparent, lacking strength, and not convenient in use.

The improvement which I have made, seeks to remove the defects of the others by a simple, and yet most effective method; by which the entire movable jaw, although constructed with a similar arrangement of parts as in the best style of ordinary screw wrench, possesses a binding power more effective and simpler than any previously made. This will be better understood by a reference to the accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon; Figure l being a side view, and Fig. 2, a front View.

A is the stationary jaw and bar of the wrench, as ordinarily constructed, except that at B is a recess to admit the socket O of the screw which actuates the movable jaw D. At B, this socket, in which one end of the screw revolves, is furnished with a pivot, admitting of the motion of the entire combination of jaw, screw, and socket toward the stationary jaw, as represented by the dotted lines in the drawing at G. The slot in the jaw D which embraces the bar, is made larger than usual, so as to admit of this swinging motion, and yet act as a guide to the binding jaw. Y

The faces of the two jaws, between which the object to be gripped has its place, may be hardened and roughened so as to exert the greatest possible friction.

The action of the wrench is as follows; the object to be gripped, a rod for instance, being placed between the jaws, they are made to embrace it by means of the action of the thumb upon the screw; then upon endeavoring to turn the rod by means of the wrench, the slightest contact is sufiicient to induce a motion of the entire jaw D upon the hinge at B, toward the stationary jaw, increasing its binding power by the increase of strain, and holding the object firmly between the two jaws, releasing it instantly by a revolution in the opposite direction.

This wrench has nothing to prevent its satisfactory use upon the ordinary square nut when its" gripping power is not required; and yet at all times the firmness with which it embraces any object is an argument in its favor.

The distance of the center of motion from the face of the movable jaw in this wrench admits of a greater power being exerted with the greatest leverage, and the smallest amount of friction,-and the entire face of both jaws is brought to bear upon the object grasped between them. A spring is inserted at E, to keep the swinging jaw in its normal position, that it may always be in readiness to grip.

I do not claim broadly a swinging jaw;

nor do I claim a hinge as hitherto con-V structed but VV hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- Providing the socket C of the screw with a pivot or hinge, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

HENRY J. BEHRENS.

Witnesses:

I/Vu. P. CHAMBERS, GARRET D. KING. 

